Tips to Reduce Food Waste

Food that ends up in a landfill rarely has access to the air and sunlight it needs to properly decompose. Rotting food in landfills emits methane gas, a big contributor to global warming. Implement some of these tips to save food and money!

Write a list before going to the grocery store and stick to it to be sure you're not buying food you don't need.

Check your pantry and fridge before going shopping. You might already have what you need!

Make sure your fridge is working properly. Check that the seals are tight and the temperature is between 33 and 38 degrees Farenheit.

Don't throw food away. Over ripe fruits can be used in smoothies or pies. Wilting vegetables are great for soup.

Save your leftovers and use them as ingredients in your next meal. A spoonful of cooked vegetables can be the base for a crock pot meal!

Modify recipes so you only make what you think you'll actually eat. Be sure to modify your shopping list too!

Rotate your cupboards and fridge after shopping. Bring older items to the front and put new food toward the back so you have less risk of finding something moldy down the road.

Keep serving sizes small and encourage people to get refills in they're still hungry. That way you'll have less leftover on plates that might end up in the garbage.

Freeze items that you use rarely. If you only have bread once in a while, keep it in the freezer and thaw pieces as needed.

Set up a compost bin for unavoidable waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings.

Share leftovers with other people instead of throwing it away. You might even make a new friend!

Find out if a local farmer collects food waste to turn into compost or pig food.

Look beyond the sell-by date. These dates are often to tell retailers when they should stop displaying the item on shelves not when they're unsafe to eat. Use your senses before throwing something away. If it looks, smells, and tastes normal then it should be safe.